Originally released 2001 on TM-Industries.
"Under a Soular Moon is one of the early albums by Xenis Emputae Travelling Band, the ambient project by Philip Legard. Unlike later material, this album is quite electronically oriented. We hear some flutes, bells and voices, but much less than in younger albums. This gives this album an estranging effect, and it doesn't immediately remind you of the natural atmospheres of recent work. Don't expect any standard ambient, though! The unique, varied sound of Xenis Emputae Travelling Band is already quite clear here.
"I have the idea that this album is inspired by the female archetype, and the images associated with her, like (creative) Darkness, the Earth, the Moon and the Mother. The are, in any case, images that some of the song titles and atmospheres conjure up for me. Especially the second track, "Black Moon Mother", illustrates this perfectly with its low, dark, earthy drones. A remarkable, original and particularly succeeded piece of music. The other tracks are less intense, sadly, and don't stand out as much individually as does "Black Moon Mother". But, together they convey an interesting, strange atmosphere. It's hard to give examples of this atmosphere, because the sounds and effects are hard to place, but I will mention a few tracks. "The Moon Bog" (inspired by the story of the same name by H.P. Lovecraft?) fits the other tracks perfectly, on account of the rather 'swampy' sounds and dark effects. On "Terraetheric Gnosis", we hear something like low singing bowls and bells. There isn't really happening all that much in this track musically, but it manages to get across a certain feeling nonetheless, and that is at the same time the strength of the entire album. "The Spiral Path" is a bit deviant from the general atmosphere, because of the dreamy acoustic guitar and flute, which makes this a calm and peaceful ending of this - for XETB standards - dark album.
"The songs on Under a Soular Moon are short and simple; they are often made up of a few sounds of effects, and there is little development in the tracks themselves. They are more like short sketches of atmosphere, which form a coherent whole. I think Phil's work is thus often best listened to as a whole, and this certainly goes for this album. Recommended to lovers of nature-inspired ambient. Also suited to meditation."
- Oscar Strik, Evening of Light
"Under a Soular Moon is one of the early albums by Xenis Emputae Travelling Band, the ambient project by Philip Legard. Unlike later material, this album is quite electronically oriented. We hear some flutes, bells and voices, but much less than in younger albums. This gives this album an estranging effect, and it doesn't immediately remind you of the natural atmospheres of recent work. Don't expect any standard ambient, though! The unique, varied sound of Xenis Emputae Travelling Band is already quite clear here.
"I have the idea that this album is inspired by the female archetype, and the images associated with her, like (creative) Darkness, the Earth, the Moon and the Mother. The are, in any case, images that some of the song titles and atmospheres conjure up for me. Especially the second track, "Black Moon Mother", illustrates this perfectly with its low, dark, earthy drones. A remarkable, original and particularly succeeded piece of music. The other tracks are less intense, sadly, and don't stand out as much individually as does "Black Moon Mother". But, together they convey an interesting, strange atmosphere. It's hard to give examples of this atmosphere, because the sounds and effects are hard to place, but I will mention a few tracks. "The Moon Bog" (inspired by the story of the same name by H.P. Lovecraft?) fits the other tracks perfectly, on account of the rather 'swampy' sounds and dark effects. On "Terraetheric Gnosis", we hear something like low singing bowls and bells. There isn't really happening all that much in this track musically, but it manages to get across a certain feeling nonetheless, and that is at the same time the strength of the entire album. "The Spiral Path" is a bit deviant from the general atmosphere, because of the dreamy acoustic guitar and flute, which makes this a calm and peaceful ending of this - for XETB standards - dark album.
"The songs on Under a Soular Moon are short and simple; they are often made up of a few sounds of effects, and there is little development in the tracks themselves. They are more like short sketches of atmosphere, which form a coherent whole. I think Phil's work is thus often best listened to as a whole, and this certainly goes for this album. Recommended to lovers of nature-inspired ambient. Also suited to meditation."
- Oscar Strik, Evening of Light
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